9 October, Prosecutor of Nizhniy Novgorod region lodged a lawsuit demanding the closure of the Russian Chechen Friendship Society. In the notification the public prosecutor states that the organization has violated several laws. The case is linked to the verdict of the same court of February 2006 when Stanislav Dmitrievsky, right, was given a two years’ suspended sentence on politically motivated `race hate´ charges reated to articles published by his organization. (13-OCT-06)
In February 2006, Dmitrievsky was given by the Soviet Court of Nizhny Novgorod court a two year suspended sentence on politically motivated ‘race hate’ charges related to articles published by his organization. The ruling of the court testified to the violation of the right to freedom of speech and human rights activists identified the trial as a politically motivated case.
Basis of demands to close down RCFS
The sentencing of the human rights activist for inciting ethnic strife and enmity is being used to close down the Russian-Chechen Friendship Society. The closure of the organization is demanded on the basis of several points. As the leader of the organization, is found guilty of inciting to ethnic, social and racial hatred, according to article 14 of the Federal Law on Anti-extremist Activities the organizations should have stated in public its disagreement with the statements and activities of the leader. The organization’s failure to do so is seen as evidence that there are signs of extremism in the activities of the organization. According to article 19 of the Federal Law on Public Associations, a person sentenced for incitement of extremism, has to be removed from its board. Dmitirevsky has not been removed.
Physical, legal and administrative persecution
Dmitrievsky is said to have organized an unsanctioned picket in September 2005 and the organization hasn’t condemned his actions. The authoroties also refer to the order of changing the name of the organization has not been carried out.RCFS members have endured a long campaign of physical, legal, administrative and media persecution. According to Dmitrievski his situation is part of an attack-campaign against civil society in the Russian Federation.
Photo: Human Rights House Foundation visited the RCFS´s office in Nizhny Novgorod in February 2006.
Background
Stanislav Dmitrievskiy is director of the Russian-Chechen Friendship Society (RCFS) -a human rights organisation monitoring human rights violations in the Chechen Republic which co-publishes Pravo-zaschita newspaper. Stanislav Dmitrievskiy is also editor of the Russia-Chechen Information Agency (RCIA), which, on 19 May, received one of the Fritt Ord and ZEIT-Stiftung’s Press Prizes 2006 in Hamburg, after he was nominated by the Human Rights House Foundation, Norwegian Helsinki Committee and Rafto House Foundation.
Other related articles see www.nhc.no
